Kings Heath and Moseley Low Traffic Neighbourhood measures to continue

The ‘experimental’ Low Traffic Neighbourhood regulations in Moseley and Kings Heath were due to expire on April 22.

However following a local consultation Birmingham City Council has said that it will leave the measures in place in a ‘holding position’ ahead of the Council’s Cabinet approving revised detailed plans for the whole area.

In the meantime the council has announced that traffic will be permanently stopped from parking on Kings Heath High Street.

It is also set to introduce a new 20mph speeding limit and add traffic calming measures to Billesley Lane, in light of responses made in the consultation.

And they are re-introducing a right turn on to the A435 Alcester Road for general traffic.

The controversial scheme has caused issues for many traders and residents.

However some people have praised the regulations, which the council has called ‘Places for People’.

There is also general agreement in the area that more needs to be done to protect the environment.

What has the council said about the consultation?

The council has reported the findings from the consultation on it’s Birmingham Be Heard website.

It states: “From the beginning, this project has seen strong feelings expressed from a range of perspectives.

“We are conscious that there is no one solution which will satisfy everyone in the area.

“In general, people in the community agree that action needs to be taken to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and congestion, but the difficult question is how this should be done.

“The responses to this consultation show that the options we presented have some, but not full support from people in the area.

“We are very clear that doing nothing is not an option. To reach net zero carbon, to improve air quality and to enable our growing population to travel around the city efficiently, we must take action to reduce trips taken by private car.”

What has the council said about the decision to leave the Low Traffic Neighbourhood measures in place?

“A decision about the measures currently in place needs to be taken before 22 April, when the current, Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders will expire.

“We are planning, at that time to convert these into full Traffic Regulation Orders, with the current measures remaining in place as a ‘holding position’.

“However, in the summer, we will take detailed plans for the whole area to the Council’s Cabinet to ask for their approval to implement a revised area wide scheme.

What has the council said about banning cars from parking on Kings Heath High Street?

“Respondents also noted that on-street parking on the High Street is still suspended using temporary barriers and have asked for a permanent solution.

“We will permanently widen the footway in these locations, with provision for loading where business need has been identified.”

What has the council said about the new traffic measures on Billseley Lane and Vicarage Road?

“A number of key concerns were raised at consultation, and the revised scheme seeks to mitigate for these.

“For example, speeding traffic was noted across the area, so we will bring in new 20mph speed limits and add physical traffic calming to Billesley Lane.

“Traffic on Vicarage Road was raised by many people; our revised scheme will allow for the right turn into A435 Alcester Road to be re-opened to general traffic and will include upgrades to the signals at the Red Lion junction.”

What else has the council said about the LTN scheme in Kings Heath and Moseley?

The council also noted:  “We will continue to engage with the local community, including residents, businesses and local representatives, and the Kings Heath & Moseley Places for People Project Board (local Councillors and MPs) will continue to oversee the project as we work together to shape Places for People in Kings Heath and Moseley, and to develop an exemplar which can rolled out in other parts of Birmingham.”

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